Reunion is a Week Away! Have you Registered Yet?

See who's coming to Reunion 2011 by visiting the Reunion page and clicking on the honored class sites.  The Reunion schedule is full, the campus is ready, and faculty and staff are itching with excitement to have our alumni back in Chestertown again! If you haven't yet registered to attend Reunion Weekend, please take a moment to sign up online.

Reunion 2011 Events NOT to miss:

Join the Sho'men Club Golf Tournament
Kick off Reunion Weekend at the Sho’men Club Golf Tournament on May 20 at the Chester River Yacht & Country Club, 7738 Quaker Neck Road, Chestertown, MD
Registration & check-in at 8:15 a.m., Tee time at 9:00 a.m.
For more information and to receive a registration form, contact Susanne Kelly at 410-778-7231
or 1-800-422-1782 ext. 7231.

Relive the Beach Bash
The KAs are celebrating their 75th anniversary this year. Relive one of their best parties Friday night! Play cornhole, roast marshmallows by the river, enjoy food and drink, and hear yacht rock by Marshall Norton, Jr. '98 and the band, three sheets to the wind. (Shuttle service will be available between the Roy Kirby, Jr. Stadium parking lot and the Wilmer Park lot that evening. Rain location-Hodson Hall.)

Get Your Run On, George-Style
Register now for the Revolutionary 5K Run and White Wig Walk that begins at Wilmer Park Saturday morning. Revolutionary attire is encouraged and prizes will be awarded!

Meet the New President
Meet President Mitchell B. Reiss at the free continental breakfast Saturday morning in Hynson Lounge. Class gifts will be presented. See if your class is in the lead to win a trophy!

Hear from WC Coaches
Hear Barry Drew '70 moderate a panel discussion about the athletics program with coaches Josh Putnam (Sailing), 
Jeff Shirk - (Men's Lacrosse), Al Streelman '69 (Baseball), Megan Duran (Women's Basketball), and Dr. Mike Davenport (Women's Rowing, Director of Rowing Program).

Honor the Lit House Press
It's the 25th anniversary of the Lit House Press! Watch demonstrations by alumni who learned the craft, enjoy a wine tasting, and hear Adam Goodheart, director of the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience and author of 1861:The Civil War Awakening, discuss his book.

Sample Alumni Craft Brews
Stop by your Alumni House to taste beers brewed by Evolution Craft Brewing Company. Owner John Knorr '93 will host the event, along with his wife, Sonya Church Knorr '93. Watch the Preakness while sampling Evolution's Primal Pale Ale, IPA, Lucky 7, and a limited Evolution beer.

See a Show Where Anything Could Happen!
Hear alumni storytellers like Robert Powell '56, Nancy Klos Grimshaw '86, Sarah Jarrell Contos '00 and C.A. Hutton '72 tell true stories about their late night college escapades. This live performance called "Tales Out of School: All-nighters" will be emceed by Doug Rose '86 and Travis Allen '99. A few lucky audience members may be chosen to share their own all-nighter tales during the show. Expect to laugh, expect to be moved, and expect the unexpected!  Seating is limited.

Feel the Rhythm
Dance to alumni DJs Ross Dettmering '01, Chris Mocella '01, and Kris Murphy '94 spinning tunes Saturday night or relax with friends in the jazz lounge and martini bar while listening to live music by Mike Buccino '99 and the Kelsey Shiba Quartet.

There's no shortage of fun for all ages this year. We hope to see you soon at Reunion 2011!

Good News On State Funding Requests

Dear Alumni,

 The 428th session of the Maryland General Assembly adjourned at midnight last night, and I am pleased to report that the legislature maintained funding for the Sellinger Program of direct aid to independent colleges and universities at the fiscal 2011 appropriation of $38.4 million.  Washington College’s allocation under the Sellinger Program will be $1,364,424.  As important, the Fiscal 2012 Capital Budget awards $10 million for four construction and renovation projects at independent colleges and universities.  Washington College’s allocation will be $2.5 million for the renovation of the Clifton M. Miller Library.  Washington College is contributing the difference to upgrade the heating, air conditioning and ventilation system; to create spaces for group study, distraction-free testing and study skills instruction, an expanded College Archive, and additional offices for instructional technology staff.

Up until this past weekend, there was grave concern that the College’s request for assistance in renovating Miller Library would be reduced to $1.5 million, effectively delaying the opportunity to begin the project this summer.  The $2.5 million is less than the requested $3 million, but it will permit the College to begin phase one of the project immediately following Commencement in May.  It also means that a planned $1 million renovation of the basement of the Cain Athletic Center will be able to proceed as planned this summer.

There are many individuals to thank for the success of our state funding requests in these trying economic times.  First and foremost, we thank the members of the General Assembly who were our champions:  Delegates Norman Conway, Adrienne Jones, and Melony Griffith of the House Appropriations Committee and Senators Edward Kasemeyer, James DeGrange, and Richard Colburn of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.  In addition, Senators Barry Glassman ’84 and Joe Getty ’74 were persuasive advocates on behalf of their alma mater.  Finally, I would be remiss if I did not recognize and salute Tina Bjarekull, President of the Maryland Independent College and University Association (MICUA), and her staff for their diligent work throughout the 90-day legislative session to make the case for independent higher education before the members of the General Assembly.  We could ask for no better representation in the halls of the Maryland legislature than Tina and her staff.

I hope you will join me in thanking members of the Maryland General Assembly with whom you come into contact for supporting MICUA institutions through the Sellinger Formula and the State Capital Budget.

"There's no place like home."

"There's no place like home."

That was certainly the case for our varsity student-athletes this weekend. Saturday marked the first time in school history that nine varsity sports competed at home on the same day - and all nine came away winners. The men's and women's rowing teams hosted Division II Philadelphia University and won five of the six races. The men's tennis team won two matches, while the women's tennis team remained unbeaten at 10-0 with a win over Muhlenberg. Our men's and women's lacrosse teams each posted important conference wins over Muhlenberg. On the diamond, baseball swept a
double-header against Ursinus, winning game two in walk-off fashion in the 11th inning, while softball split a pair of games against Muhlenberg, winning game one in walk-off fashion in the 10th. Finally, the sailing team hosted a conference championship-qualifying regatta this weekend and put the finishing touches on its first-place finish Sunday morning. It was a truly remarkable weekend on the fields, on the courts, and on the water and was representative of the continued success our teams are bound to enjoy. There are plenty of games left. For further sports information and schedules, go to washingtoncollegesports.com. Please come to the College and join Elisabeth and me in supporting them!

"War on the Shore"

Enjoy "War on the Shore" at the Stadium, on Television or Online The "biggest little lacrosse game in America" is just five weeks away and Washington College alumni are encouraged to cheer on the Shoremen as they do battle against archrival Salisbury University in the "War on the Shore," Saturday, May 7, on Kibler Field at Roy Kirby, Jr. Stadium. FOR THE FIRST TIME, THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO WATCH THE GAME: See it at the Stadium The best, of course, is in person. The "War on the Shore" has an atmosphere unsurpassed in Division III athletics. The game routinely draws more than 2,000 fans, and Roy Kirby, Jr. Stadium will be a packed house - not to mention the hundreds of Washington College students who will be enjoying the game from just outside the north end of the stadium between Sassafras and Chester Halls. There will be a special alumni and friends BYOB pre-game tailgating section set up outside the stadium beginning at 11:00 am. (Note: There will be no skybox seating available during the game due to the television broadcast.) Watch it on TV If you live in the greater Baltimore media market, you can watch the game live on WMAR-TV, ABC 2. For the first time ever, the "War on the Shore" will be the station's featured Game of the Week. Catch it Online You may also be able to watch the broadcast live online on ESPN3.com. ESPN3.com is available free on college campuses and military bases and via most major Internet service providers, including Atlantic Broadband, Bright House, Cavalier, Comcast, Cox, TimeWarner, and Verizon. For more information on ESPN3, find out if your Internet provider carries it. Coverage of this year's game will begin at 1:00 pm, with face-off scheduled for 1:06. The winner of the game will be awarded the Charles B. Clark Cup. Clark, a 1934 graduate of Washington College, was an educator and lacrosse coach at both Washington and Salisbury and led both programs to national prominence.

Be an Ambassador for Washington College

Sponsor a Washington College Book Award at a secondary school of your choice this spring!  Recently, you should have received a mailing about the Book Award, the WC program that recognizes high school juniors across the country who have produced outstanding written work in the field of history.

Supported by the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, the Admissions Office, and Alumni Relations, the program depends upon alumni who volunteer to become Book Award sponsors. 

TO BECOME A SPONSOR: 
1) Complete the online sponsor form on the Book Award web site.
2) WC will mail an information packet to you that you may use to approach the school(s) of your choice.
3) Once a school agrees to participate and you help underwrite the program with a $50 gift, WC will send the award to the recipient.  You may choose to appear in person for the award presentation.

To find out more about the program or to see past award presentations, visit the Book Award web site.  You may also email or call 410-778-7880 for more information.

The 24-Hour DV Challenge

Do you have an interest in Film-making or Digital Video?  Would you like to participate in Washington College's 6th annual 24-Hour Digital Video Challenge?  

The 24-Hour DV Challenge has been a highly popular video competition, hosted by WC's Multimedia Production Center over the last five years. Participants form a team to create a short film in just one day. The challenge increases with a list of criteria you must include in your video that you won't receive until the start of the competition. Teams must have at least one WC alumna/us on them, and final videos must include only footage produced and edited during the 24-hour window. The winning alumni team earns bragging rights and a $150 Amazon.com gift card.

See highlights from the 2008 Screening and Awards.

Competition:
The primary time window is 4/1/11 at 5:30 PM to 4/2/11 at 5:30 PM.
A secondary window of 4/2/11 at 5:30 PM to 4/3/11 at 5:30 PM is available to help those with scheduling conflicts.  You must choose one time slot.

Screening and Awards:
A screening of the films and awards for the winning teams will take place 4/11/11 at 7:30 PM in Hodson Hall in the Egg. The best video production will receive the prize of a $150 Amazon.com gift card.

You are not required to come to campus to participate!
As much as we'd love to have our alumni teams producing their films on campus and in the MPC lab, you are not required to travel to campus to participate.  If you live too far away to make the trip, please consider forming your team locally and submitting your film electronically (for timestamp) and follow up with a DVD in the mail for the screening.  If you do want to come to campus to participate, you can bring your own equipment to use, or borrow gear from us!

All skill level filmmakers welcome!  No cost to enter!  Please contact us by 3/31 at the latest if you wish to participate.

For more information, or to register, contact Brian Palmer, Manager of the Multimedia Production Center, at bpalmer2@washcoll.edu or 410-778-7864.

“Dawn, n.: The time when men of reason go to bed.”
   -- Ambrose Bierce (1911)

Ah! The "all-nighter." It's a Washington College tradition few of us can forget. And on Saturday night of Reunion Weekend we are going to celebrate those memories in a very special show. 

We are currently seeking savvy storytellers to relate true stories about their late night escapades in a live performance program called “Tales Out of School: All-Nighters.” If you have a moving, inspiring, shocking, or hilarious story about your College experience after dark, we want to know about it.  Was your educational experience between dusk and dawn as valuable as your experience between dawn and dusk? Did coffee, snack foods, hormones, or fear fuel your push through ’til dawn? Did you toil through the night to finish a paper, cram for an exam, celebrate a victory, seek love, overcome heartbreak, share secrets, or support friends?

The Washington College Department of Drama Alumni want to hear from all artful alumni storytellers (regardless of your field of study) about your unforgettable experience in sleep deprivation. If you can tell your story in less than 10 minutes, through words or song, dance or movement, mime or sign, and you are planning to come to Reunion Weekend (May 20-22), please tell us about you and your tale.

Following are complete details on how you and your story might have your moment in the spotlight. Please contact us soon—we don’t want to wait up all night!

CALL FOR PROPOSALS: “TALES OUT OF SCHOOL: ALL-NIGHTERS”
All alumni planning to attend Reunion Weekend 2011 in Chestertown are invited to submit a proposal for our “Tales Out of School” program. Please send us a one-page description that includes:

• Some basic information about you: class year; field of study; current vocation (or avocation); performance, public speaking, or storytelling experience, etc.
• A brief description of your true Washington College “all-nighter” story: who, what, where, when, etc., and how you would tell it.
• A brief sales pitch: why do you think your story should be included in the presentation?

Story proposals must be sent via e-mail to reunionstories@washcoll.edu no later than Friday, April 15. Supporting materials (such as headshots or other photos, MP3 video or music clips, etc.) are also welcome.

Storytellers selected for the performance will be notified by a panel of alumni volunteers by May 1.  A mentor/director will be assigned to each storyteller to help prepare for the performance. Storytellers will be expected to arrive on campus the afternoon of Friday, May 20, to meet with the group. Storytellers must also attend a brief technical rehearsal on Saturday, May 21. The performance will take place from 7:30-8:30 pm on Saturday.

NOTA BENE: On the night of the performance, audience members who have an all-nighter story to tell will drop their names into a hat for possible selection during the performance. Alumni storytellers whose submissions are not selected by the committee are encouraged to participate in the drawing on the night of the performance.